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What can you do about mosquitoes?

Photos provided by ThermaCell ThermaCell lanterns are a popular and portable way to keep mosquitoes under control.

Provided by ThermaCell -- ThermaCell lanterns are a popular way to keep mosquitoes under control.

mosquito bug

Stand outside for more than a few seconds in the summer and fall months in most of Florida, and you’re bound to encounter the blood-sucking varmints known and loathed throughout the state.

Don’t worry, you haven’t stumbled into a “Twilight” review. We’re not talking vampires. These are mosquitoes.

And they’re more than just an inconvenience. Those bites can bring dangerous diseases, including some that are present in Northeast Florida, according to Merrill Varn, chair of the board of directors at Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens.

Mosquitoes can transmit diseases ranging from West Nile virus to chikungunya, a long-term and sometimes debilitating illness reported in July by the Duval County Health Department.

So what’s the hardy lover of the outdoors to do?

For homeowners, the first line of defense is prevention. Emptying containers with standing water, no matter how small, will go a long way toward reducing the backyard mosquito habitat.

“A lot of times, people are in their backyard and just spray and spray,” said naturalist Eric Ziecheck of Ripple Effect Ecotours. “They’re not treating the problem, which is a bucket of water that is just breeding mosquitoes.”

Closing down those mosquito maternity wards is a good start. But for people venturing into the wild, some more active measures are necessary.

A quick look at local stores or online will turn up dozens of products — sprays, lotions, candles, electronic and gas-powered gizmos and more — all designed to hold bugs at bay.

Among chemical repellents, the gold standard today is DEET, which has the unwieldy full chemical name of N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. Tree Hill executive director Mark Mummaw says that for most people, a 40 percent DEET product is sufficient to keep mosquitoes away.

“Anything over 40 percent is not really giving you more effectiveness, just some more time between applications,” Mummaw said.

DEET isn’t the best choice for everyone, though. Some people find the chemical irritating enough to cause mild skin irritation, particularly when it’s applied in higher concentrations.

The newer compound picaridin is one alternative to DEET. Ziecheck prefers more natural products derived from botanical oils like citronella, spearmint and wintergreen.

Then there’s the old debate: Lotions or sprays?

Either form can work, but it’s important to read the labels carefully to make sure the repellent is applied properly.

“Sometimes, a spray is too far away from your skin and the spray just goes everywhere,” Ziecheck said. “You want to make sure you put enough on to keep them away.”

Electric bug zappers might look like the perfect tool to banish biting bugs, glowing in the dark like insect-vanquishing lightsabers.

Unfortunately, zappers by themselves won’t do much to stop mosquitoes. That’s because research suggests that these pests are attracted not by bright light but by skin odors and by carbon dioxide that people exhale, according to a 2013 study at the University of California, Riverside.

Plus, bug zappers don’t distinguish between biting and harmless insects, so they could wipe out the same insects that can help to cut down the pest population.

One device that’s drawing better reviews is the ThermaCell, which uses a butane cartridge that steadily emits a repellent into the air. Mummaw said the repellent works to drive away not only mosquitoes but also gnats, yellow flies and other aerial pests.

It’s more expensive than most repellents, but not exceptionally costly — about $25, including the main unit, a cartridge that lasts for 12 hours, and three repellent pads that last for four hours apiece.

Although it shouldn’t be used in an enclosed area because of potential buildup of fumes, its portability helped win over Mummaw.

“If you’re going to be sitting watching birds or something like that, you can set it on a bench right next to you,” he said.

The bad news: Mosquitoes are an inescapable fact of outdoor life in Florida. But by understanding how mosquitoes fit into the local ecosystem, people can reduce their risk of becoming dinner for insects.

“If you’re going into the natural world, nature has its balance and mosquitoes are a part of that balance,” Ziecheck said.

Ziecheck said that people who are active in upland watershed areas or around dawn and dusk should be especially mindful of mosquito swarms.

Now, the good news: Predators such dragonflies and some bird species help to turn mosquitoes from the hunters into the hunted. Also, wind tends to discourage mosquito activity, so those going out in breezy weather have a better chance of avoiding mosquito encounters.

If all else fails, outdoor enthusiasts can fall back on one last piece of advice: Cover up.

“Lots of different manufacturers are making lightweight, breathable clothing with long sleeves that will help protect from the sun and biting insects,” Mummaw said. “Mosquitoes will most definitely have a tough time biting through that.”